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Time-trial specialist Alex Dowsett is determined to become the perfect team-mate to
Mark Cavendish in order to pursue his own dream of Olympic glory.

Alex Dowsett racing for Team Sky in the Revolution Championship at the National Cycling Centre (Pic: Luke Webber)

The 23-year-old Essex rider proved his class against the clock by taking the British time-trial title this year and beating a quality field in the time-trial stage of the Tour of Britain in September.

Dowsett then joined world champion Tony Martin on the podium at the prestigious Chrono des Nations, but knows it still may not be enough to earn the chance to challenge the German for Olympic gold in London.

âTo do the time trial you have to be in the road race team as well but with Mark Cavendish being such a big favourite for that I have turned my focus into being the best possible attribute to the team in order to get selected,â he explained.

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âThere are 10-12 riders in the running so itâs very competitive just to get in the team.â

And Dowsett, coming off a breakthrough debut season with Team Sky, believes theÂ International Olympic Committeeâs scheduling hasnât done him any favours either.

âIn any UCI [International Cycling Union] event the TT comes first because itâs shorter. But at the Olympics the road race is first and there is then too small a gap in between, so theyâve taken the edge off both,â he said.

âMartin is outright favourite in the TT but he has to do the road race and it may take something out of him. It also affects the German team as heâll be picked ahead of someone who could do a job. So everyone is compromised. It feels like a runner being asked to do the marathon before the 400metres.â

Before then Dowsett rounded off a memorable season by taking to the track in last weekâs Revolution Championship in Manchester.

âItâs been a long year but I always enjoy the Revolution series,â he added. âI first did it as a 16-year-old and Iâve done one or two a year ever since. The crowds are really enthusiastic and it was a lot of fun.â

Alex Dowsett was racing for Team Sky in the Revolution Championship at the National Cycling Centre. For tickets to the Nov 19 event, featuring Mark Cavendish, visit www.cyclingrevolution.com